Hamburg State Opera

Founded as Opern-Theatrum on 2 January 1678, a long wooden building located on the corner of Gänsemarkt and Jungfernstieg. During its first 58 years of existence, the opera house became the leading people's theater in the German-speaking world, both in size and reputation. More importantly, it helped ensure operas were no longer just for the aristocracy but could be a meeting place for everyone. During that early period, composers such as Georg Philipp Telemann and Georg Friedrich Händel lived and worked in Hamburg, making artistic contributions to the city's opera house. In 1810 it was renamed the Hamburg Municipal Theatre.

From 1844 both Richard Wagner and Giuseppe Verdi worked with the Hamburg Theater and their works defined music for many years onward. In 1873, Bernhard Pollini took on the task of directing and managing to stabilize the opera house's often strained financial situation by arranging public funding. That administration has yielded successful results: six years under composer Gustav Mahler have brought Hamburg countless wonderful works and performances.

On the first Tuesday of the 20th century, works by Richard Strauss and Richard Wagner dominated the performances. Heinrich K. Strohm was appointed chief executive officer by the Nazi regime. He was responsible for the name change to the Hamburg State Opera in 1934. During World War II, air raids destroyed the auditorium, but the stage fortunately remained intact. A year after the end of World War II, the opera house reopened to spectators, who then had to sit in a makeshift auditorium until 1953, when reconstruction work began. Two years later, Mozart's "The Magic Flute" was the first performance in the new 1,770-seat auditorium.

In the early 2000s, the building was once again rebuilt. The Hamburg State Opera currently has three rehearsal stages, as well as rehearsal rooms for orchestras, choirs and ballet troupes. Offices, lounges and conference rooms are located on the upper floors.

Currently, Frances Delnon acts as a consultant, while Kent Nagano serves as music director and conductor. Both the Hamburg Ballet under the direction of John Neumeyer and the Philharmonic State Orchestra reside at the Hamburg State Opera.

Address: Große Theaterstraße 25, 20354 Hamburg